Fresh Dirt

Fresh Dirt
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  • Religion & Spirituality

Fresh Dirt is a podcast about the good, beautiful, and sometimes hard work of participating in the Kingdom of God. Through honest conversations with church planters, missional leaders, community builders, and kingdom innovators, we dig into what it looks like to join in with what God is growing in the world. From church planting and missional communities to fresh expressions, local mission, leadership, failure, hope, and the slow work of faithfulness, Fresh Dirt is about the places where new life begins, often below the surface. Fresh Dirt: conversations for deeper roots, fresh courage, and Kingdom imagination.

Episodes

  1. Oct 5

    7 Phases of Church Planting - Part 3

    In this episode of Fresh Dirt, Ralph Mayhew and Steve Gray continue working through the 7 Phases of Church Planting. Picking up from the previous two episodes, they explore the next stages of the church planting journey and some of the practical, relational and spiritual questions that begin to emerge as a new community takes shape. The seven phases aren’t intended to be a rigid formula. Every church plant, planter and context is different. Instead, they offer a simple framework to help people think about where they are, what might come next, and what healthy movement could look like. Drawing from their own experiences of planting, leading and walking alongside other planters, Ralph and Steve reflect on the opportunities, tensions and lessons that come with starting something new. Whether you’re already planting, exploring a sense of call, supporting a planter, or simply curious about how new churches take root, this episode continues the practical conversation. Fresh Dirt is a podcast about the good, beautiful, and sometimes hard work of participating in the Kingdom of God. This episode is sponsored by the Kenmore Institute for Church Planting, a new initiative of the Australian College of Ministries that equips and forms emerging church planters. To find out more, or to explore whether the Kenmore Institute could be part of your journey, visit: https://acom.edu.au/about/schools/kenmore-institute/ If you'd like to explore church planting, email us at: freshdirtofficial@gmail.com

  2. Aug 30

    Fresh Dirt Live (Church Planter Panel)

    Fresh Dirt is a podcast about the good, beautiful, and sometimes hard work of participating in the Kingdom of God. Hosted by Ralph Mayhew (Uniting Church) and Steve Gray (Churches of Christ), each episode digs into honest conversations about church planting, missional communities, Kingdom innovation, leadership, faithfulness, failure, hope, and the slow work of seeing new life take root. This episode is a little different. Recorded live as part of a panel event, it brings together a range of voices for an honest conversation about church planting, mission, leadership, and what we are seeing across the Australian Church. There were a few technical issues with the visuals during the event, but thankfully the audio came through clearly, so it is well worth a listen and still worth a bit of a watch too. Whether it’s a fresh church plant, a neighbourhood expression of mission, or a new idea emerging from the margins, Fresh Dirt explores what it looks like to join in with what God is growing in the world. Have a listen and let us know what you think. We’d love to hear what stood out or what you would add to the conversation. Fresh Dirt: conversations for deeper roots, fresh courage, and Kingdom imagination. This episode is sponsored by the Kenmore Institute for Church Planting, a new initiative of the Australian College of Ministries that equips and forms emerging church planters. To find out more, or to explore whether the Kenmore Institute could be part of your journey, visit: https://acom.edu.au/about/schools/kenmore-institute/ If you'd like to explore church planting, email us at: freshdirtofficial@gmail.com

  3. Aug 23

    The Church Planting Temperature in Australia, Spiritual Friends & Exponential Reflections

    Church Planting in Australia, Spiritual Friends & Exponential Reflections In this episode of Fresh Dirt, Ralph Mayhew and Steve Gray sit down for a wide-ranging conversation about church planting in Australia, the importance of spiritual friends, and reflections coming out of Exponential. They explore what they’re seeing and hearing across the Australian church planting landscape, why having people alongside you matters in ministry, and some of the ideas and questions stirred through recent conversations with church planters and leaders. Fresh Dirt is a podcast about the good, beautiful, and sometimes hard work of participating in the Kingdom of God. Hosted by Ralph Mayhew (Uniting Church) and Steve Gray (Churches of Christ), each episode digs into honest conversations about church planting, missional communities, Kingdom innovation, leadership, faithfulness, failure, hope, and the slow work of seeing new life take root. Whether it’s a fresh church plant, a neighbourhood expression of mission, or a new idea emerging from the margins, Fresh Dirt explores what it looks like to join in with what God is growing in the world. Fresh Dirt: conversations for deeper roots, fresh courage, and Kingdom imagination. This episode is sponsored by the **Kenmore Institute for Church Planting**, a new initiative of the Australian College of Ministries that equips and forms emerging church planters. To find out more, or to explore whether the Kenmore Institute could be part of your journey, visit: https://acom.edu.au/about/schools/kenmore-institute/ If you'd like to explore church planting, email us at: :freshdirtofficial@gmail.com

  4. Aug 19

    7 Phases of Church Planting - Part 2

    Episode 5: The 7 Steps of Church Planting - Part 2In Episode 5 of Fresh Dirt, Ralph Mayhew and Steve Gray continue their practical conversation around the 7 steps of church planting. Picking up where Episode 4 left off, they work through the remaining steps and explore what it looks like to move from an idea or sense of calling toward actually forming a new church community. Drawing from their own experience of planting, leading and walking alongside emerging church planters, Ralph and Steve talk honestly about some of the decisions, challenges and opportunities that come along the way. These seven steps aren’t a perfect formula or a guarantee that everything will go smoothly. Church planting is rarely that neat. Instead, they offer a practical framework to help you think through the journey of starting something new. Whether you’re already planting, considering it, supporting someone who is, or simply curious about how a church plant actually gets started, this episode continues the conversation. Fresh Dirt is about the good, beautiful, and sometimes hard work of participating in the Kingdom of God. This episode is sponsored by the Kenmore Institute for Church Planting, a new initiative of the Australian College of Ministries that equips and forms emerging church planters. To find out more, or to explore whether the Kenmore Institute could be part of your journey, visit: https://acom.edu.au/about/schools/kenmore-institute/ If you'd like to explore church planting, email us at: freshdirtofficial@gmail.com

  5. Aug 9

    7 Phases of Church Planting - Part 1

    In Episode 4 of Fresh Dirt, Ralph Mayhew and Steve Gray get practical and explore the 7 steps of church planting. Church planting can sometimes feel overwhelming. Where do you actually start? What comes next? And how do you move from an idea or sense of calling toward a healthy, growing church community? Together, Ralph and Steve unpack seven practical steps that can help give shape to the church planting journey, drawing from their own experience of planting, leading and walking alongside emerging church planters. This isn’t a perfect formula or a guarantee that everything will go smoothly. Church planting is rarely that neat. But these steps offer a helpful framework for thinking about calling, people, mission, discipleship, gathering and what it takes to begin something new. Whether you’re already planting, considering it, supporting someone who is, or simply curious about how a church plant actually gets started, this episode is a practical place to begin. Fresh Dirt is about the good, beautiful, and sometimes hard work of participating in the Kingdom of God. This episode is sponsored by the Kenmore Institute for Church Planting, a new initiative of the Australian College of Ministries that equips and forms emerging church planters. To find out more, or to explore whether the Kenmore Institute could be part of your journey, visit: https://acom.edu.au/about/schools/kenmore-institute/ If you'd like to explore church planting, email us at: freshdirtofficial@gmail.com

  6. Aug 2

    Church, Mission & Renewal: Alpha and the UK Church

    In this episode of Fresh Dirt, Ralph Mayhew and Steve Gray reflect on their recent trip to the UK as part of the Alpha Leadership Tour and Conference. Part report, part reflection, this conversation explores what they saw, heard, and learnt from Alpha, UK church leaders, and communities seeking renewal in their own contexts. Together they unpack themes of church planting, mission, leadership, prayer, renewal, and what these stories might stir in the Australian church. Fresh Dirt is about the good, beautiful, and sometimes hard work of participating in the Kingdom of God. This episode is sponsored by the Kenmore Institute for Church Planting, a new initiative of the Australian College of Ministries that equips and forms emerging church planters. To find out more, or to explore whether the Kenmore Institute could be part of your journey, visit: https://acom.edu.au/about/schools/kenmore-institute/ If you'd like to explore church planting email us on Freshdirtofficial@gmail.com

  7. Jul 27

    What is a Church?

    In Episode 2, Ralph Mayhew and Steve Gray continue exploring the good, beautiful, and sometimes hard work of participating in God’s Kingdom. This time, we ask a simple but foundational question: what is a church? Together, we explore what makes a church a church and how our understanding of the Church shapes the communities we lead, plant and participate in. Is a church a building, a weekly gathering, an organisation, a community or something more? Whether you’re a pastor, planter, leader, curious Christian, or simply reconsidering what church can look like, this episode invites you into an honest conversation about the identity and purpose of the Church. This episode is supported by ACOM’s Kenmore Institute for Church Planting an incredible opportunity for church planters, future planters, revitalisers, and anyone curious about joining in the work of starting and renewing churches. Find out more here: https://acom.edu.au/about/schools/kenmore-institute/ Or email us at: freshdirtofficial@gmail.com

  8. Jul 7

    Church Planting?

    In our first episode, Ralph Mayhew and Steve Gray introduce the heart behind Fresh Dirt and why we’re having conversations about the good, beautiful, and sometimes hard work of participating in God’s Kingdom. We begin by exploring why people plant churches, what a church plant actually is, and some of the reasons Ralph and Steve stepped into church planting themselves. Together, we reflect on how church planting connects with mission, discipleship, community and the future of the Church in Australia. Whether you’re a pastor, planter, leader, curious Christian, or simply wondering what church planting is all about, this episode is a gentle starting point for the conversation. This episode is supported by ACOM’s Kenmore Institute for Church Planting, an incredible opportunity for church planters, future planters, revitalisers, and anyone curious about joining in the work of starting and renewing churches. Find out more here: https://acom.edu.au/about/schools/kenmore-institute/ Or email us at: freshdirtofficial@gmail.com

    Church Planting?
  • 8 Episodes

About

Fresh Dirt is a podcast about the good, beautiful, and sometimes hard work of participating in the Kingdom of God. Through honest conversations with church planters, missional leaders, community builders, and kingdom innovators, we dig into what it looks like to join in with what God is growing in the world. From church planting and missional communities to fresh expressions, local mission, leadership, failure, hope, and the slow work of faithfulness, Fresh Dirt is about the places where new life begins, often below the surface. Fresh Dirt: conversations for deeper roots, fresh courage, and Kingdom imagination.

Information

  • Creator
    Fresh Dirt
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    8
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Fresh Dirt
  • Show Website
    Fresh Dirt